The young woman was in a state of extreme anxiety, tears welling in her eyes.
The enraged horde of **Rampaging Marching Ants** was almost upon them. Zhou Qiu summoned his **Fiery Steed**, shouting, "I can only take two. Which two of you will get on first, and I'll take you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the remaining four girls pounced towards the **Fiery Steed** like hungry tigers. They all scrambled at once, wrestling with each other. As soon as one managed to climb onto the horse's back, another would immediately pull her down.
"Let me on!"
"Me! I want to live!"
"Get out of my way!"
The girls' faces contorted, fighting each other desperately. Their clothes were torn, their bodies covered in scratches, appearing utterly disheveled. In the end, two managed to get on, their bodies covered in bloody scratches, a terrifying sight. Yet, they still wore smiles of joy. The other two, utterly exhausted, collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
However, in just that brief moment, Zhou Qiu had already charged out, the **Fiery Steed** leaving a trail of fiery hoofprints on the ground.
The two girls sitting on the ground were just about to scramble to their feet to continue the fight, but it was too late.
They pinned their last hopes on Qiu Xia and Zhao Biao.
They threw themselves before the two, "Masters, please, take us with you! We don't want to be devoured by the **Rampaging Marching Ants**!"
They had personally witnessed their companion, Xiao Lan, instantly reduced to bloody bones. The lingering fear was still overwhelming, and they just wanted to survive, willing to do anything.
Qiu Xia and Zhao Biao exchanged glances. Neither of them had witnessed the true terror of a horde of **Rampaging Marching Ants**, so they had no real concept of the danger. However, seeing everyone's panicked state, they both decided to flee the area first!
Qiu Xia commanded, "I'll take these two students. You go and bring Young Friend Lu Fei along!"
Zhao Biao nodded firmly.
He shouted loudly, "Brother Lu Fei, hurry and get out of here! The **Rampaging Marching Ants** are coming!"
"Alright! Let's go!"
Lu Fei did not refuse. He returned the Iron-Headed Boy to its beast scroll and leaped onto the back of Zhao Biao's contracted beast.
Zhao Biao was riding a silver-armored tiger, a contracted beast named **Silver Armored Fierce Tiger**, possessing impressive stats for both attack and speed.
Just as the leader of the **Rampaging Marching Ants** was about to reach them, the **Silver Armored Fierce Tiger** charged forward. Its form became a silver afterimage, disappearing from its original spot.
The **Rampaging Marching Ants** were momentarily stunned but quickly reacted. The leader let out a furious roar and gave chase again. Their speed was incredible; they were actually keeping pace with the **Silver Armored Fierce Tiger**.
Large drops of sweat beaded on Zhao Biao's forehead.
"What the hell is this thing! Damn it, it's so tenacious!"
Looking at the dense mass behind them, and the trees and rocks that were instantly swept away, Lu Fei's heart pounded.
His mind rapidly recalled the terrain, and he shouted,
"Keep going straight! There's a cliff ahead, we can jump over!"
Zhao Biao immediately gave the command to the **Silver Armored Fierce Tiger**, "Silver Armored Fierce Tiger! Accelerate!"
The **Silver Armored Fierce Tiger** let out a low growl, and its already lightning-fast speed increased further.
The **Rampaging Marching Ants** behind them continued their relentless pursuit.
"Damn it, why are these beasts only chasing us? Aren't they going after anyone else!"
Zhao Biao's words caught Lu Fei's attention. He murmured to himself, "Could they be after me?"
Though he thought this, there was no way to confirm it now. He could only continue to push forward madly. Once they reached the cliff edge, they would have a chance to shake off these creatures.
After a desperate dash for survival, they finally reached the edge of the cliff.
"Silver Armored Fierce Tiger! Jump!"
Following Zhao Biao's furious roar, the **Silver Armored Fierce Tiger** raised its front paws and leaped. Its jump was perfectly executed, using almost all its strength. It was clear it would make it to the other side.
Zhao Biao's face lit up with joy.
"Brother Lu Fei, we can finally shake off these guys!"
His only response was the whistling sound of the wind in his ears. Zhao Biao, puzzled, turned his head.
He was instantly dumbfounded.
Lu Fei, who had been sitting behind him, was gone!
"It's over!" Zhao Biao's expression turned to shock.
He crawled to the edge and peered down into the ravine. He presumed Lu Fei had either fallen off the cliff or had been caught and carried away by the **Rampaging Marching Ants** just then!
His face drained of color, and he struck the ground with his fist.
"It's my fault! It's my fault for not protecting him!"
Zhao Biao was filled with self-reproach, burying his head in the ground. But at this moment, even if he went back, he wouldn't find Lu Fei, and he would likely lose his own life as well.
After a moment of hesitation, Zhao Biao could only leave his spot and quickly contact the Beast Tamer Association to seek reinforcements.
"Ah~~~"
Lu Fei screamed repeatedly. His body was retreating at an astonishing speed, but he wasn't walking on the ground; he was being pulled by a strange force.
Although the surrounding scenery was incredibly blurry, Lu Fei could still faintly see trees whizzing past him at an incredible speed. The sky was like a long rainbow, as if in a dream.
After a period of falling backward, Lu Fei finally stopped.
"Crap... what the hell was that." Lu Fei patted the dust off his body, moved his joints, and when he looked up, he was immediately paralyzed with fear.
With him as the center, dense **Rampaging Marching Ants** surrounded him from all sides!
Each of the **Rampaging Marching Ants** had an expression of fury on its face, baring its fangs and roaring at Lu Fei, as if ready to devour him at any moment.
Lu Fei was completely surrounded with no escape. At this moment, summoning the Iron-Headed Boy would be akin to sending it to its death.
He cursed inwardly, "Damn it, they really were after me."
Earlier, when he and Zhao Biao were fleeing madly, the fact that these creatures were only chasing the two of them had already made Lu Fei suspicious. Now, being inexplicably brought here further solidified that idea.
But then, Lu Fei thought again that something was not right.
The force that had forcibly pulled him over just now was not something that a low-tier contracted beast like the **Rampaging Marching Ant** could possess.
Could it be?
As Lu Fei's mind was filled with questions, the horde of **Rampaging Marching Ants**, which had long lost their natural instincts, parted to the sides, clearing a path.
From the shadows in the distance, a figure slowly approached. His footsteps were light, yet each step felt like a heavy blow to Lu Fei's heart. Under the immense pressure, cold sweat began to form on Lu Fei's forehead, and his body trembled uncontrollably. This was a fear!
A fear that defied any logic!
"You did well. Stand down."
A voice echoed from afar. Following that, the horde of **Rampaging Marching Ants** rapidly withdrew from the area.
Suddenly, only Lu Fei and this unknown figure remained in the woods. The figure drew closer, and Lu Fei vaguely saw its silhouette. It wore a hooded cloak, and due to the darkness, he could not discern the person's features.
The figure kept getting closer.
Lu Fei's eyes widened, as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.